Well the race is done and dusted. Our small team of misfits casually drifted across the finish line to a very warm welcome from the crowd. Our casual pace meant the pizzas and drinks were gone scoffed by the ravenous hordes of previous competitors. However the wonderful crew from Racing The Planet scrounged us some drinks and pizza. Time for a few photos before heading to the nearby bar for more pizza and a well earned beer. The plaza where we finished is very rustic with llamas munching on leaves in the courtyard with a magnificent snow capped volcano in the background. Not much to say about the run home other than we all decided to stick together letting Crabs lead the way with his broken feet. Great to have a chat with Jame Jame and Raggy. There was of course one final stream to cross just to get the blisters talking. Once again thank you to everyone for the supportive e-mails and blogs but even more importantly the donations to the Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre. The total has been steadily growing thanks to everyone's donations. If you have not done so visit the SKMRC web site for the latest news. Will sign off now as I relax by the pool with an icy cold coke watching the inevitable brooding storm build as the evening approaches. Another fantastic light show put on by mother nature. Looking forward to the banquet and presentations tonight then a long journey home. See you all soon. A leaner Biff Dog

The Long March - Salt Flats, Mountainous Sand Dunes, Heat & Lightning

The day started in a mad rush, slept in till 5:45am! Felt good apart from feet, which officially will lose 3 toenails. Nothing compared to Crabs who will lose all 10. He is in a world of hurt but laughs it off in his usual good humour. The day started at a frenetic pace with me chasing Doggy, Jame Jame & Raggy who at the time I thought was Jamie. Later on we found out Jamie had decided to go for a last minute toilet stop. Finally caught Doggy just after checkpoint 2, averaging close on 7km/h which eased off greatly over the salt flats. Amazing terrain but brutal on feet. The heat by this time had risen close to 40C and both Doggy and ended up with burnt lower lips from the reflected heat from the salt. Looked like snow across the ground just a tad hotter.  The climb up the mountainous sand dune stopped everyone in there tracks, very steep at the top, with the feeling that you could topple backwards onto your backpack and slide like a turtle to the bottom. Sections 3 and 4 of the course were long, close to 14km each, and hot. Water and hydration became an issue for all competitors. The roaring Gobi Bear appeared out of nowhere with electrolytes, glucose and water unfortunately exiting the body. The gut had shut down due to the heat so had to ease off the pace and sip water very slowly. Fortunately this was just before checkpoint 5, so re-gathered the body function with tuna & mash plus chicken broth. Doggy's shin and tendon sheath was on fire so he wanted to get away quickly before it seized completely but I needed a few more minutes to get the body back together. Decided to part company, so I rested for 30 minutes before going on at a good pace after  being revived from the dead. Decision had interesting consequences, as I got caught at the last checkpoint due to competitors being stopped due to lightning ahead. Doggy had gone through and was caught in the middle of the storm. With lightning crashing all around him he ran the last section in a great time, very sorry I missed the excitement.

The downside was sitting away from the tent with howling winds and then rain pelting down as we waited for the all clear to continue or lightning to strike. In fact they pulled all the competitors behind us out of the race due to the lightning strikes. The good news was Crabs, finally arrived bashed, beaten and bruised by the course but still with his inimitable smile on his face. So he and I walked the final 10km into the finish, sharing stories of the last two Long Marches we had finished together. A fitting end to a memorable day. Got in just after midnight, exhausted but satisfied. In fact it was the best I had felt at the end of any Long March. Jimmy and Raggy did very well but Doggy's performance over the whole event was fantastic.

The final leg had its highlights apart from mountainous sand dunes, surreal landscapes and endless salt flats. The major one was Crabs disappearing into a salt, mud quicksand mix, his antics in trying to extricate himself would have been wonderful to catch on film. His poles and legs were going everywhere, imagine a drunken stick insect trying to extricate itself  from glue and you will get the picture. I tried to laugh but it hurt too much. This was part of the long climb up the Valley of the Moon on a crystalline salt roadway which amazingly had a river of water running under it due to the rain. The full moon finally appeared from the clouds to light up the Valley of the Moon which was full of sculptured crystalline salt shapes that eerily came to life in the moonlight. A number of cars passed us in fact coming to visit this famous local site.

It is currently day 6. The competitors who didn't finish due to lightning have gone back out to finish the course, which thankfully is only 18km. The drums are sounding in the background as they finish.  The fanfare and noise is very welcoming. Competitors are lazing about the campsite scrounging food, dressing wounds and killing time, eager to do the final leg tomorrow and finally get out of clothes that now ,after a week, are ready to run off on their own. Thank you once again everyone and especially 12Athens1 for the e-mails and blogs, they have been great to read at the end of each day and to keep up with what's happening back home. This will be my last blog as after the "sprint" tomorrow it is a time for celebration before the long journey home.

cheers

Biff Dog

What a campsite for the end of stage 3 at the foothills of the Andes. After my last blog there was rain high in the mountains which produced a magnificent rainbow and the sky turned all shades of purple in the setting sun. The night sky is awesome, with the milky way glowing brightly and the planets a blaze as they move across the heavens. My usual 5am start still had me rushing for the start as it takes a long time to rebandage the feet and toes. Beautiful morning but another brutal day beginning with endless rolling sand dunes mixed with rocks which culminated in steep descents into narrow gorges and the accompanying enervating ascent to get out. The view from the Andes foothill was panoramic with the days journey spread out before us. Left Crabs early to catch up with Doggy at checkpoint 1. He is a relentless machine, barely stopping to take on water. Whenever I stopped to take a photo he was another 100m down the track, I only took the lead once on the salt flats but had to relegate the front position as my 5.75km/h was not the 6km/h that Doggy required. The long descent was moderately easy as it was across flat sand and rock before finally going through a "forest" (sparse stumpy trees in a narrow band) which was at least some relief from the heat. The long section of 14km through the salt flats lived up to its reputation. A hard slog through crusted, lumpy, sometimes muddy and at other times rock hard salt coated mud. The reflected heat sapped the energy and the uneven terrain again played hell with the feet and legs. Achilles and knee were on fire by the end, but this was nicely balanced by the muscle spasms and pain through the shoulders and back due to the weight of all the extra water we had to carry through this section as there was no vehicle access. Could be time for anti-inflammatories tonight. The finish with Doggy was a blessed relief and great to see Crabs come in not long after.

Another amazing campsite on the salt flats. There are two holes in the salt flats at the campsite which are deep and contain cold, slightly brackish water which were like heaven to swim in. Bad luck Smithy I too have my own beach and cold water to swim in and even pulled out a coke to everyone's amazement to celebrate the day.

The long day looms but in reality I have never felt better, actually hungry and no nausea despite the heat. Pretty knackered and sore all over but that is only pain and easily dealt with. Fingers crossed all goes well for the "long march". Doggy and Crabs also managing issues so hopefully everyone will bring home the bacon.

Jame Jame and Raggy continue to do well and are being conservative to ensure a good finish. Another Australian woman Sandy Suckling is coming second in the female division of the race and is in the top 20 overall. I believe she is 50 and there is nothing to her, what an inspirational effort. I can only look on in awe at her racing ability and management of the tough conditions. So girls of MLC there is a challenge for you to join a future 4 Deserts run. For those who have done a 50 mile walk you can have some idea of the fun you can have if you imagine doing two more of these back to back followed by a short 10km run and all cross country with unsure footing, difficult terrain and steep up and down hills but in far away amazing places, meeting fascinating people.

 

Thanks Gary for the e-mail, I'll ring when I get back and good golfing.

Look forward to seeing you and the girls soon Jen, keep the e-mails/blogs coming.

Signing off for now

The Gobi Bear is gone long live the Biff Dog

Bloody tough, that sums up the day. We started the day with mud and salt flat combo which was anything but flat. Image running across a combination of coral outcrops, anthills and mangrove swamp and you get some idea of the terrain. This was followed by endless rolling hills of soft sand with rocky outcrops in between. It was energy sapping to say the least. I think the course designer is a sadist. After 40km of grueling terrain the finish culminated with a sand hill so steep most competitors were reduced to crawling. Crabs, Doggy and myself stayed together all day although sometimes separated by a few hundred metres. Crabs set a cracking pace with the 40km done without stopping other than to get our water bottles filled. We were spot on 8hours, not bad for dad's army considering the younguns, jimmy and Raggy did it in 6h45min. The rough terrain smacked our feet and knees around with a few new blisters growing on top of the old ones. I believe Petra is running a book on how many toenails I will lose this time so I can't reveal any info to change the odds.

Thanks everyone for your blogs/emails. Smithy you are a cruel basket talking about drinking beer and swimming in the cool ocean at Cottesloe. You owe me a cold one when I get back.

Thanks girls from Athens 1 you are a special group and I wish you well while I am away, I know you will all be diligently completing the tute program. Hope the singing, drama and mime are going well. I'm certain Bec is running a tight ship and keeping the relief tutor in line.

Thanks Jen and Gabby for your e-mail your words of encouragement are great to read and I will try the ancient mariners remedy of a stone in the forearm to stop nausea although I think I may have the cure. Upped the water to over 8 litres while I am running/walking and that combined with Jelly beans and 2 salt tablets an hour saw me finish well with no nausea(or at least hardly any) The Gobi Bear has stopped roaring and hopefully has gone into hibernation. The Biff Dog could be making a comeback, I am eating and actually feeling hungry, miracles do happen.

last but not least I should mention the scenery. Today we started from a salt lake which apparently 100m below the surface spreads out and covers an enormous area, so we were literally camped on the lake. The route took us East towards the Andes and the last part of the course past one of the many celestial telescopes in Chile as we ran along The Andes foothills. The geology is amazing and I even stopped to collect some rocks, what was I thinking.

I think that may be contributing to the muscle spasms rippling through my back. Will sign off now before rigour mortise sets in.

Buenos noches

The ex Gobi Bear

A night of recovery some salami for breakfast and we are off for another day of punishment. Actually felt better this morning, a first. Today the feet took a pounding with numerous river crossings which were fast flowing. This resulted in the slot canyons being bypassed as too dangerous. The climb out was on an old Inca trail with unbelievable vistas of the Andes and river below. What a contrast with the desert as an oasis of green and village opened up before us. The descent was down an enormous sand dune, thank god we didnt have to go up it, that comes on day 4 but a different dune. The trail out of the canyon was flanked by towering clay cliffs eroded into fascinating shapes. More river crossings until we finally entered the Valley of Death which was km's of salt flats, uneven underfoot but not as bad as what is to come apparently. Crabs, Doggy and I stayed pretty much together all day. Crabs started and finished strongly, keeping well hydrated. I again found the last few kms hard with the heat causing large water loss which is difficult to replace. Doggy is struggling with his shins and pain behind the knee, feet were also causing problems with the wetness. Unfortunately threw-up in front of the medical tent which wasnt so discrete, all because of recoverite. That will not be used again. Still have a slight headache but nausea abating. Another day becons.

Thanks for the great messages Jen, my love to you, Lilly and Gabby.

Au revoir

The roaring Gobi Bear

Weight, far too much weight at weigh-in. Not me, the backpack. 12.5Kg before water that will teach me to go for a little comfort but I do wish I had my 300g sleeping bag instead of the 1.2kg I had to substitute. Everyone envious of my supersize sleeping mat, just hope it does'nt puncture on the rocks.

Base camp was an experience. Torrential downpour, overnight and of course the tent leaked right on top of me and the sleeping bag. Who said this was the driest desert. Up at 5 this morning and still rushing to reach the start line at 8 am. Only 3 loos for 180 people, needless to say a long line up. Briefing promised a hot day and it delivered. Morning was beautiful with the snow capped mountains greeting us and rather chilly. It was nice while it lasted. Terrain was very rocky with the downhills playing havoc with the knee. Crabs(Jamie) taking it very easy to protect his knee graft, we stuck together for the day. The young Prendivilles Jimmy and Raggy went out hard with Jimmy paying the price at the end of the race, but now recovering after a good retch. Doggy(Garry) went out at his usual strong pace and is following his successful formula but suffering with shin issues due to the rocks. Felt pretty good for the first 30km but then the dreaded nausea set in. I am a glutten for punishment, I keep trying different formula but the outcome seems to be the  same with dehydration, nausea and lack of appetite. Feet are not too bad but toes taking a pounding from the rocks, so expect to loose toenails, the question will be how many.

Incredibly windy at camp1 with many competitors trying to hold down tents, lightning and thunderclouds are menacing so if the storm hits full on it could be a bad night. 

Love to Jenny and the girls and thank you to those who have replied to the blogs. It is great reading the words of encouragement, I will take you up on the coffee and dessert, Carlo. Will sign off for now and try to get some food down. I hope the Gobi bear does not roar tomorrow.

Vi con dios as Smithy says

the Gobi Bear

After 22hours plus on the plane and a total travel time of 30 hours have arrived at adobe village of San Pedro. The landscape is very lunar like, dry and rocky with no vegetation in sight until you descend into the oasis at San Pedro. A large snow capped volcano towers over the village just to remind us we are still on Earth. Not yet adjusted to the 11 hour time difference so have been up since 3:30 am. Staying at the Don Thomas hotel with its adobe walls the temperature stays very mild inside overnight. Great to catch up with the Prendivilles last night as we visited one of the local restaurants which Garry assured me was the best in town. A special thanks to the girls at MLC for their best wishes and card. I will certainly be doing some uncertainty calculations as I wander across the desert. Busy day ahead with gear check and drop off into no mans land. Regards The Gobi Bear

Here I am after midnight yet again trying to finalise equipment and work commitments. It is always an 11th hour mad dash. Have taken onboard the need for a puffer jacket to fight off the cold. Just got back the orthodics but I do not think the fit will be good enough for the shoes I'm wearing. More pain to come I fear. Training at the moment is golf, cycling, car repairs and fashion parades. Not sure how this will help in the desert?